Guitar Holding Position, Left or right leg? Options

[JTaylor]

I have yet another question that, hopefully, somebody can help me with. After years of messing with the guitar, I have decided it is time to learn how to play it. In the month and a half I have been here, I have been trying to get rid of my old habits and have started fresh, constantly asking advice and doing my best to follow it. I have seen improvement and I am very happy. However, there is one thing I have seen that I am not sure I can change.
EVERY player I have seen on here holds their guitar on their right leg. I have always held it on my left leg. Maybe it is because I am left handed (though I do play right-handed...I am slightly ambidextrous). I have tried to hold it on my right leg but I am almost six and a half feet tall and have long arms. This cocks my right (picking) arm at a contorted angle that is downright painful. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this something that I should not even be concerned with and just keep the guitar on my left? I feel silly even asking this but I have yet to see anyone here put it on the left and I am just wondering if it is something that I need to address.
Thanks for the advice and I understand if this gives you a good laugh .

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[Ivan Milenkovic]

Well, I was in the same boat actually. I practiced for years in sitting position, with my guitar on my right leg. It didn't bothered me that much, but after a while, because practice became more frequent, and I started to play on stage in standing position, it didn't feel natural anymore to sit down and practice.

What helped me is to get a good strap and practice always in standing position, or using the classical pose (guitar on the left leg). When you use that pose, it somehow centers the guitar, so both hands are near the body.

Note that I still use guitar on the right leg, but it's becoming uncomfortable after some time, because my picking hand elbow and shoulder are too far out from their natural position. First I feel the tension there ( in the shoulder and then elbow).

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[JTaylor]

Hey Ivan and thank you! You know, I have read posts from you and Ben just this week that talk about practicing while standing. That is what I will learn to do. I actually did play in front of people at my church once and had to do it sitting down! You did mention getting a quality strap... I never thought that would make much of a difference but I will invest in one soon! Thanks again!

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[PosterBoy]

I can't play with it on my left leg, it feels so unnatural

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[Dinaga]

I'm right-handed and I play guitar only on left leg with a footstool.

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[Daniel Realpe]

I tend to play on my right leg when seated, but for certain parts I chenge to the left, classical position,

I've noticed that with time you learn to play almost in any position, I guess you need to experiment with different positions until you realise that it's not all that important,

Although I do have a specific height in which I set my guitar when playing standing, and If I'm not set like that it's as if I feel naked or something

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[JTaylor]

I'm right-handed and I play guitar only on left leg with a footstool.

Ya know, I never noticed that in your REC's! Good to know I'm not alone! Now I just have to get my playing like yours!

Thanks Daniel and Posterboy for the feedback also!

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[Todd Simpson]

BINGO! Tons of folks hold it like this but yes, it can cause issues with your playing. Some folks are fine with it and have zero trouble doing it for years, and years, and years. However, some players find it causes issues. There is an easy fix!

*SIT IN CLASSICAL POSITION

This is something I learned from my Classical Guitar instructor. It's the way classical player sit with their guitar and the physics of it can really help your playing. Put your guitar in between your legs and put the foot closest to the tuning pegs on something (stack of books, classical guitar foot rest, etc.) to prop it up about 6 inches more or less off the ground. This creates the angle of the guitar neck that will allow easier access.

When you stand up to play, the guitar should stay roughly in the same spot. By following this small tip, I"ve seen players make big gains. It allows you to learn something once and play it sitting or standing. Eventually, you may go back to putting the guitar "side saddle", but give classical position a try. I still use it to this day and it has always helped.


Here is Chris Broderick from Megadeth sitting/playing classical.


Todd

I have yet another question that, hopefully, somebody can help me with. After years of messing with the guitar, I have decided it is time to learn how to play it. In the month and a half I have been here, I have been trying to get rid of my old habits and have started fresh, constantly asking advice and doing my best to follow it. I have seen improvement and I am very happy. However, there is one thing I have seen that I am not sure I can change.
EVERY player I have seen on here holds their guitar on their right leg. I have always held it on my left leg. Maybe it is because I am left handed (though I do play right-handed...I am slightly ambidextrous). I have tried to hold it on my right leg but I am almost six and a half feet tall and have long arms. This cocks my right (picking) arm at a contorted angle that is downright painful. Has anyone else experienced this? Is this something that I should not even be concerned with and just keep the guitar on my left? I feel silly even asking this but I have yet to see anyone here put it on the left and I am just wondering if it is something that I need to address.
Thanks for the advice and I understand if this gives you a good laugh .

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net

Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

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This post has been edited by Todd Simpson: Jan 15 2012, 06:22 PM

[JTaylor]

I tend to play on my right leg when seated,

until you realise that it's not all that important,

Again, good to know I am not alone. And I especially appreciate the "it's not all that important" part! Thanks Daniel!

BINGO! Tons of folks hold it like this but yes, it can cause issues with your playing. Some folks are fine with it and have zero trouble doing it for years, and years, and years. However, some players find it causes issues. There is an easy fix!

*SIT IN CLASSICAL POSITION

This is something I learned from my Classical Guitar instructor. It's the way classical player sit with their guitar and the physics of it can really help your playing. Put your guitar in between your legs and put the foot closest to the tuning pegs on something (stack of books, classical guitar foot rest, etc.) to prop it up about 6 inches more or less off the ground. This creates the angle of the guitar neck that will allow easier access.

When you stand up to play, the guitar should stay roughly in the same spot. By following this small tip, I"ve seen players make big gains. It allows you to learn something once and play it sitting or standing. Eventually, you may go back to putting the guitar "side saddle", but give classical position a try. I still use it to this day and it has always helped.


Here is Chris Broderick from Megadeth sitting/playing classical.


Todd

Definitely gonna try this when seated! Thanks Todd!

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[Ben Higgins]

Hi Jon

Although most people perform in their videos with the guitar on the right leg, there are quite a lot of GMCers and some of the instructors too who always use the classical left leg position when practising in their own time

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[Todd Simpson]

Hi Jon

Although most people perform in their videos with the guitar on the right leg, there are quite a lot of GMCers and some of the instructors too who always use the classical left leg position when practising in their own time

This is a great point Ben. Once you get to a certain level, you can put the guitar over the right leg with minimal problems especially if just for a video to get the right shot for demonstrating a lick.

As Ben mentioned, many of the instructors use classical or standing position when playing / practicing on their own.

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[Alex Feather]

I can't play with it on my left leg, it feels so unnatural

Same here! I use to own a flying V and it was so hard to get use to! Just very uncomfortable!!!

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[TesttubeMammoth]

Left leg, with a foot stool. Like Dinaga.

I have been finding that if I try and play in other positions whilst sitting I get pain in my left wrist. These days I always try to sit up straight, use a strap and the footstool so I don't kink my wrist.

Pain is a great teacher

Also I have just moved from a 7.25 radius neck to a 9.5 which is much, much, much more comfortable!

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This post has been edited by TesttubeMammoth: Jan 16 2012, 10:18 PM

[Alex Feather]

I use to play classical guitar and with acoustic guitar it's more natural to hold it on your left leg but I can't do it with electric guitar at all

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[Cosmin Lupu]

Since I am holding my guitar pretty low when performing, I tend to study standing up almost all the time for the stuff I have to perform on stage - as that includes jumping, running and all sorts of other tricks Otherwise I became comfy with the sidesaddle position, when the guitar stands on my right leg, just because I usually have to sing when I play the guitar and in that position I can always keep my mouth close to the mic and take a quick peak at the neck of the guitar and see that I am not going astray when performing. For some things it's A LOT easier to hold the guitar in the classical position, but when you have to sing, it's a lot more difficult to have a good view of the neck. I think each posture has ups and downs, but it's a matter of self conscious exploration in order to figure out which one is best when and also be able to switch between them at ease. On the other hand, when I'm playing with the orchestra, I tend to raise the axe as some positions would not be accessible if the guitar is hanging to low.

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